Bodies in desert are missing McStays

Fallbrook family had been missing for more than three years

The family’s computer history indicated an interest in Mexico in the weeks leading up to the disappearance, with Summer exploring Spanish-language software and someone searching about passport requirements for children traveling into Mexico.

A grainy surveillance video of the border crossing revealed a family of four that resembled the McStays walking into Mexico on Feb. 8, further bending suspicions in that direction.

San Diego County sheriff’s detectives spent three years on an exhaustive investigation, fielding hundreds of leads and possible sightings, combing through the family’s background, looking for possible enemies, and digging into business and financial dealings. And nothing.

By April, they decided their best and logical conclusion, while still unsatisfying, was the family went to Mexico on their own free will. The case was turned over to the FBI, which has more international resources.

With the new developments, San Diego County detectives and the FBI are offering their assistance and volumes of case files to San Bernardino County authorities to catch them up. What leads were followed, where they went cold, and what may have been overlooked.

“Our department is continuing to use whatever resources we need to investigate this crime and bring the individuals responsible to justice,” Sheriff McMahon said.

Looky-loos and news crews this week trekked to the hard-to-find grave sites, just off Stoddard Wells Road in an area scarred by dirt roads. On Friday afternoon, a small crew of San Bernardino County jail inmates arrived to clear away leftover debris and fill in the two holes where the bodies had been buried.

When they were done, fresh dirt and rake marks marked the two spots, about 15 feet apart.

“We are going to find this individual, or individuals. I know the sheriff, the FBI, everybody wants to bring this to justice. And if it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to...,” said Mike McStay, before becoming overcome in a fit of sobs. “I just want to know when it’s over.”

Joseph’s father, Patrick McStay, said he always knew in his gut that he’d never see his son again.

“This isn’t a situation where all of a sudden my family’s gone missing. This is a situation I’ve been living with for almost four years. I had to expect something like this was coming down the line,” the father said from his Houston-area home.

He said the day he is dreading most is Wednesday — his son’s birthday.